Pet Calendar: National Puppy Day

By Robbi Hess ~ Managing Editor Pet Calendar, Crimeless Cat Executive Story Editor, Chief Cat Herder 

It’s National Puppy Day and who doesn’t love a puppy?! We certainly can’t think of anyone. Puppies are cute. Puppies are cuddly… and what can I say about puppy breath? Heaven, right?

We know puppies are cute and fun, but we also know puppies are a lot of work. If you’ve ever raised one, you know. If you never raised a puppy, but have raised a human baby, you are on the path to the amount of work and and supervision required to be a puppy parent.

Because we have relationships with shelters and rescue organizations we hear the sad stories that come from a family who buys a puppy, or adopts a puppy from a shelter, who hasn’t really thought about all of the nuances of puppy ownership. When you bring a puppy home, it needs to be a lifelong commitment.

PET CALENDAR: NATIONAL PUPPY DAY

What we love about puppies:

1. 1. They’re just plain fun
   2. They are cute
   3. They are eager to please
   4. They smell delicious
   5. They are curious
   6. There are many more, but you get the idea! (Read more about National Puppy Day below the video)
      

What may be challenging about having a new puppy:

1. They require constant supervision — unless they’re sleeping
2. They require a lot of training
3. They demand a lot of attention
4. They require you to exercise a lot of patience
5. They have unique personality quirks — just like people do — and you need to love your puppy quirks and all!

A puppy is a lifelong commitment.

You don’t take the puppy back because he pees in the house. You don’t take the puppy to a shelter and surrender her because she barks and annoys the neighbors. If your puppy has any behaviors you’re not happy with, it is up to you as a responsible pet owner to train your puppy, to love your puppy (even as she grows out of the adorable puppy stage) until the end of his or her life. Bringing a pet home is a lifelong commitment — it’s not just something you do when it’s fun and easy. Yes, we feel passionately about puppies finding forever homes!

If you want a dog, but don’t want the responsibility of a puppy, we urge you to adopt a shelter pet. They are adorable, loving and eager for a new forever home.

How can you celebrate National Puppy Day?

Here are some suggestions:

1. Adopt a puppy, but only if you’re prepared for a lifelong commitment. Never adopt any pet on a whim.
2. Visit a shelter and play with the puppies
3. Take your puppy to the beach
4. Visit a nursing home that allows pets and let the residents pet your puppy
5. Make sure your home is puppy-proofed
6. Rid your home of toxic cleaners, so your puppy doesn’t get ill
7. Build your puppy a bed — there are a lot of DIY suggestions on Pinterest
8. Bake your puppy some homemade treats
9. Find a friend who has a puppy and schedule a play date
10. Take your puppy to a training class
11. Buy your puppy a new leash and collar
12. Give your puppy a massage
13. Sit on the couch and just snuggle your puppy!

According to the founder of National Puppy Day, Colleen Paige, “Puppies are the most trusting and joyous creatures on the planet… oh to be more like a puppy.”